How many know what "ham" radio is? This hobby built around amateur radio can send programs across town or across the country. And a group of Ham Radio Operators are working to promote national parks through their hobby.
Clark Johnson, Amateur Radio Activator (Ham Radio Operator) using the call sign K7LRK, will be at Casa Grande Ruins National Monument on Wednesday, February 17, as part of the American Radio Relay League's National Parks on the Air program. Visitors will be able to hear Mr. Clark's transmissions and any replies, as well as learn about Amateur Radio. His transmitter, which is a small tabletop radio that only weighs 18 ounces and has an output power of 10 watts, is very versatile and portable. He plans to set up his radio in the park picnic area under the center covered ramada.
C.A.R.L. (Center for Amateur Radio Learning) and the Arizona Science Center will assist with providing brochures and activity handouts. Additional activators may be available to speak with visitors, answer questions, and permit a trial broadcast over the air. The activators plan to be set up from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. on the 17th.
Mr. Clark started enjoying Ham Radio pretty early, in the 1960s, and eventually qualified for an Advanced Call Identification. While living in Germany for 13 years he continued his involvement in Amateur Radio with a special call sign. Now retired from the University of Washington and living in Washington State's San Juan Islands. Mr. Clark has more time for his hobby and is even 'taking it on the road' for the National Parks on the Air program.
Amateur Radio is a hobby and public service where people set up and use two-way communications equipment. More than 730,000 Amateur Radio operators are licensed by the Federal Communications Commission, and are trained in communications techniques and basic electronics theory.
Amateur Radio has offered worldwide public service during times of need for the past century, and is recognized by FEMA and the American Red Cross as a critical communications network during natural disasters and other emergencies. Temporary, portable operations are one of the ways in which ham radio operators train and prepare for such emergencies, and combine their recreational enjoyment of Amateur Radio with the great outdoors.
Casa Grande Ruins National Monument protects the multi-story Great House and the ruins of other ancient structures built by the people of the Sonoran Desert over 800 years ago. Established as the nation's first archaeological reserve in 1892, the Ruins sparked the beginning of the archaeological preservation movement in America.
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Quick point of clarification. Amatuer radio does not send "programs" like those found on commercial radio. It consists of mainly station-to-station communications. The only "broadcasts" are those directly related to information concerning ham radio operations. All operators who transmit must be licensed by the FCC.
The remote nature of many parks create needs for emergency radio communications for those who may experience an accident or illness while visiting there. Amateur radio operators are often the only communication available other than the park management. Amateur radio communications can also be utilized in search and rescue operations in wilderness park areas where there is no other 2-way radio capabilites.
Many thanks for the clarification, Michael!
Good morning!
National Parks on the Air (NPOTA) was developed by the American Radio Relay League, the National Association for Amateur Radio. There are nearly 800,000 licensed hams in the US now.
NPOTA is the way the Amatuer Radio community is helping promote the National Park Service, and the parks, during their Centennial year. Similar to geocaching, hams in 2016 are trying to make two-way contact via ham radio with, or transmit from, as many of the 483 eligible NPS units as possible. In January, 243 of the 483 NPS units eligible for NPOTA were put "on the air" by ham radio operators, resulting in over 72,000 two-way radio contacts with all 50 states and many foreign countries.
Anybody can become a licensed ham radio operator! If you're interested, you can learn more at www.arrl.org/what-is-ham-radio. More info on National Parks on the Air is at www.arrl.org/npota
There's a number of amateur radio operators descending on the National Park Service - there's a year-long contest to transmit from National Parks, in conjunction with the NPS 100th Anniversary.
http://www.arrl.org/npota
This is a great initiative and use of Ham Radios. You can also use Ham radios for survivial.
https://comparily.com/best-handheld-ham-radio-for-survival-emergency/